The former Detroit Big Three can’t give away a car, but are basking in the strong sales sunshine of pickup trucks (no Buick thus far?), SUVs and crossovers. The much Diminished Big Three – held 43.8% of the U.S. March vehicle market, down from 46% last month – despite an ongoing boom in light truck and crossover sales, slipping from 44.5% last March. Continue reading →

The latest BMW press release from Mini on 1 April 2012 says that Mini customers will be able to boldly go (sic) where no motorer has gone before when the all-new Mini Cooper Yachtsman makes its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show this week, right beside the Hudson River. Continue reading →

FFiat Brand North America will open on 21 April the Fiat Gallery at 18 Wooster, a lounge in the Soho district of New York City. Visitors can experience the Fiat brand during the 11 days coinciding with the 2011 New York International Auto Show. Continue reading →

Thus far with sales of about 2,000 units a month in the U.S., the Kia Rio has been an insignificant factor in the hard fought sub-compact sales wars led by Honda Fit, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris. Continue reading →

Starting in 2012 in the U.S., Malibu will be built at GM’s assembly plant in Hamtramck, Michigan, which is currently producing the Chevrolet Volt and will soon start making the Opel Ampera. This leads us to speculate that a hybrid version of the Malibu is in the works. What happens to the Fairfax, Virginia plant that currently builds the Malibu remains to be seen. Continue reading →

The release of these A-class photos and confirmation that it will be shown in New York is the result of increasingly stringent U.S. fuel economy laws and a possible shift in buying preferences, which will make the car available in the United States for the first time. Continue reading →

Subaru of America will debut of the all-new Subaru Impreza 4-door and 5-door models at the 2011 New York International Auto Show later this month. The new Impreza design will provide a larger interior for five passengers and what’s said … Continue reading →

The Lexus luxury brand of Toyota Motor Sales today said that the LF-Gh hybrid concept will make its world debut at the 2011 New York International Auto Show.

The LF-Gh, which stands for Lexus Future Grand Touring Hybrid, “sets out to redefine the premium grand touring sedan,” Lexus said in a statement. LF-Gh is likely the replacement for the current and unsuccessful Lexus GS sedan, whose 1100 unit sales year-to-date are off 35%. Continue reading →

he latest Beetle rollout is a sign of the global automarket times, as well as an ironic nod to the fact that the new Beetle, soon to be in its second generation, is considered too frivolous by Germans to count among best selling cars in Germany. Continue reading →